Written Answers

Monday 25 September 2000

Scottish Executive

Black Cuillins

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in relation to the Black Cuillins on the Isle of Skye and whether it will (a) obtain a copy of the title deeds of the Black Cuillins, (b) instruct the District Valuer to carry out an assessment of the value of the Black Cuillins and (c) make representations to the owners of the Black Cuillins regarding the proposed selling price.

Angus Mackay: I refer the member to the Executive’s position on the Cuillins sale, which I set out in the debate held on 11 May. Since that time the Crown Estate have investigated title to the Cuillin Estate and concluded that they have no claim to title.

Caledonian MacBrayne

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost Caledonian MacBrayne to prepare for the tendering of its routes and whether any additional funding is being provided to meet any such costs.

Sarah Boyack: Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd will consider the likely cost of bidding for its present routes in detail once we have announced the outcome of the "Delivering Lifeline Ferry Services" consultation exercise, particularly on matters such as route bundling for tendering purposes.

  We shall consider any representations that the company may wish to make about the need for additional funding to cover route bidding and other company costs associated with compliance with European Union requirements.

Children

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the prevalence of mental health problems in school-age children and what research is currently being undertaken in this field.

Iain Gray: A Scottish Executive co-funded GB survey into mental health of children and adolescents showed approximately 10% with a mental disorder. No significant geographic differences were shown.

  The results of the survey are being used to inform future planning of services and areas of research that could further assist in the best organisation of child and adolescent services, screening and support. The Scottish Executive is funding three separate studies into mental health problems amongst school-age children. £225,000 has been awarded for research into adolescent psychiatry outpatient services, adolescent depression in schools and adolescent psychosis. A further 18 projects are under way in NHS Trusts in Scotland on child and adolescent mental health problems.

Children

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to identify children who are at particular risk of mental health problems and to target effective, co-ordinated intervention.

Iain Gray: The published Framework for Mental Heath Services in Scotland underlines, for the care agencies, the importance of early screening and timely interventions in mental health, particularly for children and adolescents.

  It is for the health and social care agencies to work with others to provide the services and circumstances for early detection and appropriate care responses that match individual assessed needs.

Education

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the General Teaching Council for Scotland since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Peter Peacock: In response to requests made by the General Teaching Council for Scotland, formal meetings have taken place on two occasions with Education Ministers since 1 June 1999. The meetings were held on 6 September 1999 and 25 April 2000. The purpose of the meetings was to hear representatives from the GTC on the proposals relating to the GTC within the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Bill.

  The Deputy Minister for Enterprise in the Highlands and Islands and Gaelic met representatives of the GTC at their request to discuss their report on Teaching Gaelic Medium Education - Recommendations for Change.

Environment

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to give local authorities powers to cleanse litter on private land when it does not constitute an environmental health hazard.

Sarah Boyack: Section 90 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 allows local authorities to designate certain categories of land not in public ownership as litter control areas. They may do so if they are of the opinion that the presence of litter or refuse on the land is detrimental to the amenity of the area and is likely to remain so. Designating land as a litter control area places a duty on the occupier of the land to keep it free of litter and refuse. Failure to do so risks court proceedings being instigated against the occupier by the local authority or an aggrieved member of the public.

  There are no plans to extend existing local authority powers regarding litter on privately owned land.

Exam Results

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Ordinary Grade, Standard Grade, Higher Grade, Higher Still and Certificate of Sixth Year Study examinations were taken in each year between 1990 and 2000 and how many candidates made appeals against the result of the examinations.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Information is available for 1990 to 1999 from the SQA Annual Statistical Reports which have been deposited with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. (Bib. Reference 8639).

  A summary is provided in table 1 below for these years. Note that appeals information was included in the SQA reports from 1993 onwards, and is not readily available prior to then. Information on entries in 2000 is provisional at this stage and is provided in table 2.

  Table 1: Entries and Appeals: 1990 to 1999

  





Year 




Level 


1990 


1991 


1992 


1993 


1994 


1995 


1996 


1997 


1998 


1999 




Ordinary Grades


204,457 


84,647 


23,952 


5,740 


75 


- 


- 


- 


- 


- 




Standard Grades


256,895 


375,719 


424,763 


441,679 


464,675 


490,112 


504,098 


496,820 


475,507 


475,568 




Number of Appeals 











27,424 


25,548 


25,975 


27,206 


30,461 


29,084 


29,539 




as % of entries 











6 


5 


5 


5 


6 


6 


6 




% Appeals Successful 











43 


48 


48 


53 


50 


51 


54 




Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE) Higher Grades


158,191 


155,794 


157,995 


159,548 


160,646 


160,925 


164,701 


167,257 


163,817 


160,909 




Number of Appeals 











16,724 


18,760 


18,987 


18,281 


19,046 


18,691 


16,933 




as % of entries 











10 


12 


12 


11 


11 


11 


11 




% Appeals Successful 











45 


41 


34 


32 


30 


28 


32 




Certificate of Sixth Year Studies (CSYS)


11,240 


10,638 


11,586 


11,482 


11,942 


12,092 


12,273 


13,044 


12,292 


13,107 




Number of Appeals 











854 


990 


970 


1,007 


1,161 


1,043 


1,155 




as % of entries 











7 


8 


8 


8 


9 


8 


9 




% Appeals Successful 











33 


33 


46 


39 


39 


41 


43 




  Table 2: Provisional Entries: 2000

  


Level 


Year
2000 




Standard Grades 


481,411 




Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE) Higher Grades 


46,049 




National Qualification (NQ) Intermediate 1 


7,980 




National Qualification (NQ) Intermediate 2 


33,987 




National Qualification (NQ) Higher 


116,531 




Certificate of Sixth Year Studies (CSYS) 


12,949

Food Safety

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that catering establishments comply with health and safety regulations.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to health and safety regulations. This is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

Fuel Costs

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much bodies funded by the Scottish Arts Council received in grant aid in 1999 which was spent on vehicle fuel.

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the administrative and operational budget of the Scottish Arts Council, excluding grant aid to applicants, was spent on vehicle fuel in 1999.

Rhona Brankin: This is a matter for the Scottish Arts Council. The information requested is not held centrally.

Health

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has played in assisting Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust to deal with any backlog caused by any lack of consultants in the Oral and Maxillofacial Department of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Susan Deacon: Provision of oral and maxillofacial services in Grampian is a matter for Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust and Grampian Health Board. The Scottish Executive has, however, substantially increased funding to health boards this year with a view to securing a range of improvements to services, including reductions in waiting lists and waiting times. At over £416 million, Grampian Health Board’s revenue allocation is 5.25% greater than its comparable allocation in 1999-2000.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review eligibility to free prescriptions, particularly for those suffering from long-term illness.

Susan Deacon: We have no current plans to do so.

Housing

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes are below the current definition of "tolerable standard".

Ms Wendy Alexander: The latest local authority estimates of the number of houses below the Tolerable Standard (BTS), as at 31 March 1999, were published in the housing series statistical bulletin HSG/2000/1, copies of which are available from SPICe. Notes to the table explain that the 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey gave a national BTS estimate which was significantly lower than the amalgamation of local authority estimates for 1996. A research study commissioned by the Scottish Executive to identify the reasons for the divergence will shortly be published and will be helpful in allowing more accurate numbers to be compiled in the future.

NHS Staff

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to deal with any shortage of breast pathologists, breast radiologists and radiographers in the NHSiS.

Susan Deacon: We are committed to increasing the number of doctors working in the NHS in Scotland, particularly in the area of cancer treatment. That is why I have recently announced a package of additional investment in the workforce which includes provision for 10 extra consultant posts, eight of which will be in the specialties of radiology and histopathology, and 100 extra junior doctors.

  The Executive also met last year with representatives of the Royal College of Radiologists to discuss workforce issues and, as a result of this meeting, increased the number of posts for doctors in higher specialist training in this specialty from 71 to 76. Further increases in trainee numbers will be considered in the future to improve the balance of supply and demand in the coming years.

  The latest information supplied by ISD Scotland indicates that there is an adequate supply of qualified radiographers to fill current establishment posts, as at 30 April 1999 only 0.9% of whole-time equivalent posts had been vacant for three months or more.

National Lottery Awards

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors whether applications to bodies in relation to which it has responsibility for National Lottery funding are dealt with as quickly as possible.

Rhona Brankin: Within the directions set by Ministers, responsibility for processing applications rests with the individual distributors.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit was of the recent Scottish Prison Service review of healthcare provision in Scottish prisons; which bodies or individuals were consulted, and when the results of the review will be published.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer Ms Cunningham to the answer the Minister gave to question S1W-5668. The 1999 Review of Medical Service Provision looked at how current contractual arrangements might be improved. Prison healthcare staff, the Health Department, together with a number of NHS Primary Care Trusts and commercial organisations, were consulted.

Road Accidents

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents have been reported at the A77 north bound exit from the Holmston Roundabout on the Ayr bypass since the completion of new road markings which create a dual lane approach to the roundabout from the south.

Sarah Boyack: None.

Road Accidents

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents were reported at the A77 north bound exit from the Holmston Roundabout on the Ayr bypass in the year preceding the implementation of the new road markings which create a dual lane approach to the roundabout from the south.

Sarah Boyack: None.

Roads

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9061 by Sarah Boyack on 30 August 2000, when it received the safety review report on the A90.

Sarah Boyack: The safety review report on the A90 Balmedie to Tipperty Route Accident Reduction Plan was received on 11 August 2000.

Roads

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9061 by Sarah Boyack on 30 August 2000, whether the safety improvements recommended in the safety review report on the A90 include any relating to the Tipperty to Balmedie stretch.

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9061 by Sarah Boyack on 30 August 2000, what immediate and short-term road safety improvements are planned for the A90 in the current financial year.

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9061 by Sarah Boyack on 30 August 2000, what recommendations were made in the safety review report on the A90.

Sarah Boyack: The report contained recommendations which involved renewing missing or weathered verge marker posts and installing white junction bollards at all public junctions and private accesses on the A90 Balmedie to Tipperty route.

Roads

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9061 by Sarah Boyack on 30 August 2000, what long-term improvements it will consider for the A90.

Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-7952 on 28 June 2000.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1943 by Sarah Boyack on 22 November 1999 and to question S1W-9177, whether it will provide a breakdown of the current modal forms of access available to the public to its office at Victoria Quay.

Sarah Boyack: The information requested is not available.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9271 by Mr Jack McConnell on 8 September 2000, how much was paid to members of staff at Victoria Quay in 1999-2000 in respect of (a) mileage claims, (b) car hire, (c) public transport and (d) taxi hire for official business.

Mr Jack McConnell: Information in the form requested regarding official business expenses for members of the Scottish Executive divided by building occupied or location is not held centrally.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Presiding Officer,  further to resolution S1M-720 passed by the Parliament on 5 April 1999, what the consequences will be if the final costs for the Holyrood building project exceed the £195 million budget.

Sir David Steel: The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group reported to the Corporate Body on 19 September that the Holyrood building project remains on course for completion within the £195 million budget approved by Parliament on 5 April 2000. Any change to this position would be reported to Parliament without delay.